Preemployment physicals

Never had one, but did have a detailed sports physical in high school.

Ekg, hearing, eyes,chest x ray,auscultation, etc

My first was the most thorough, with blood tests and chest X ray. Since then they have been less thorough or sometimes just questionaires

Mine was at age 16 and was a Pre-Employment Medical by our company doctor and was primarily for Bus Drivers and Conductors and the 400 or so clerical workers like myself

I was naked for the entire 90 minute exam and was given a very thorough Genital and Rectal exam inc prostate by a very rude and brusque Asian Doctor who took great delight in telling me I had a Penis that would never make babies, please a woman and cause much laughter and comments from other guys.

I was truly humiliated and shocked at his attitude but this was my baptism into medical fetish, I would give my life savings to have the same exam today.

I had my first pre-employment medical 50(!) years ago at the age of 18 when I joined a life insurance company..

At that time these types of medicals were more common in the UK for some jobs than they are today.

One of the main reasons for such medicals is that I was joining the company pension and life insurance schemes.

I was sent to the male doctor who the company used for medical checks for assessing health risk for life assurance.

I took my shoes off and stripped to the waist. My height, weight and BP were taken.

The doctor than examined and listened to my chest and back. Then I dropped my trousers and briefs for a genital check.

This came as no surprise as it was similar to school medicals I had previously.

I had 2 similar pre-employment exams in the next 10 years.

I had a pre-employment physical at age 23 (before my first real job). I had developed a med fet a while before so I was really anxious/excited when I was in the room with a female doctor. Unfortunately, I didn't need to get undressed at all. They took my blood pressure, drew blood, took my temperature, and listened to my heart through my undershirt.

For pre-employment and continued employment in the form of routine physicals by the company's contracted doctor includes eye test, hearing test, routine lab work, EKG, and spirometry with all results reviewed during the exam by the doctor. During the exam, heart and lungs are examined, Musculoskeletal system, fine motor skills, simple neurological exam, hernia, and rectal exam.

Employment medicals were my turn on too. Just like my School medical at 15 at a comprehensive school in the UK it was just in my underpants - white briefs from M&S I expect. Both of my early exams were a a large factory where I was an apprentice, first at 16 when I applied then at 18 for the pension fund. They took place in the company medical department where I saw the nurse first then into a screened off area for the first exam and a cubicle for the next and instructed to undress to underpants and socks. Doc was male on both occasions and rather old, first exam I was on the bed and told to 'slip my underpants down and turn my head to the wall' while he did the cough exam, second time I was stood up and he said 'do you have any lumps or swellings down there' and just pulled the front of my pants down without warning and had me cough. Think its the thought of a stranger getting me naked and under his or her control!

I remember a medical exam I had to undergo for an insurance policy in the mid 1970's. The old doctor was very thorough, I had to strip down to my underpants then was subjected to a very comprehensive examination. The doctor used a tuning fork on my head at one point, to assess my hearing. I had to lower my underpants right down for the genital exam, penis and testicles thoroughly examined then the "cough" hernia check. The doc had me lie down and auscultated and palpated my abdomen with my underpants still down to my ankles. I found it very embarrassing but also strangely arousing at the same time. The only thing I didn't have was a rectal exam. I've had medicals since then for private flying which weren't anything like as comprehensive.

Do any pre-employment medicals ever require a genital or gyn examination? I can't imagine why they would, but have heard that this has happened. Does anyone have any experiences like this?

[quote author=gynojames link=topic=15819.msg417502#msg417502 date=1328110410]

Do any pre-employment medicals ever require a genital or gyn examination? I can't imagine why they would, but have heard that this has happened. Does anyone have any experiences like this?

[/quote]

I would suppose that it all depends upon the personal predilections of the examining doctor. Maybe some of them like to do such examinations, maybe others care not a whit and prefer to skip it altogether.

In any case, in 1975 with a pre employment exam, I had a more or less detailed genital check mainly I think from the doctor's demeanor, because he was bored and had little else to occupy himself with and maybe also to come over with a bit of authority on a new fledgling 25 year old employee about to join the company ... maybe he enjoyed it as well, you can never tell. I had the impression that he did and though I was mildly taken aback by the genital part at the moment it happened, afterwards I've always had a rather fond memory of my youthful semi-embarrassment and surprise ... at 25 you think you know everything but of course do not know much at all of the ways of the world ...

Thanks for the answer agracier. Sounds like you enjoyed your embarrassment!

I had a pre-employment physical for a job in a hospital, it was a full exam including a DRE and genital/hernia exam

I've had a couple of very thorough pre-employement exams. They started off with eye and hearing tests, then moved on to blood and drugs testing before stripping down to my boxers for the rest of the exam. My height and weight were taken before the nurse carried out a lung capacity check and took my blood pressure. Then came the ausculatation for ages both on my chest and back before an EKG was done. Then the exam moved lower down to my abdomen which was palpated and listened to and then checked for hernias etc.

Last part was the limbs and joints which were moved in any way you could imagine.

I had to have a pre-employment physical to be an admitting clerk in a hospital. A pretty nurse who looked 21 took me to an exam room and handed me a gown, saying, “everything off including undies and put this on, straps in the back but leave them untied.” She then left, returning a few minutes later. She had me get on a scale to get my height and weight. She then took my temp (oral), BP, pulse and respirations. She then picked up the phone and said, “patent ready in 2 for PEP. She talked with me about working at the hospital until a doctor came into the room. The nurse sat down at the small desk and filled out the physical form, recording what the doctor told her. After having me lay on my back and pressing on my stomach the doctor said, “okay sport, hop on down and stand facing me.” He sat on a rolling stool. “Let’s see how you’re doing down here,” he said as he pulled the gown completely off of me and tossed it on a chair. I looked at the nurse and she was staring at me below the waist, a smile on her face. The doctor felt my dick and balls and then pushed a finger up my ball sack and said, “Turn your head and give me a good hard cough.” He said to the nurse, “record penis circumcised, Tanner 4, scrotum and testes normal, no inguinal hernia.” He then had me walk across the room on the balls of my feet and on my heels, squat, and do a duck walk, all with me completely nude. He then said to the nurse, “get a urine specimen and blood,” and left the room. The nurse handed me the gown, which I quickly put on. She said, “don’t be embarrassed—we nurses are used to seeing naked fellows and think nothing of it.” She had me sit up on the exam table and drew blood and then had me go into the adjoining bathroom and provide a urine sample. I was embarrassed every time I worked with her.

Pre-emplyment physicals are basically an insurance matter. Today we are faced with the term 'pre existing' condition...so it might be necessary for many employers to thoroughly examine all prospective applicants with what may be known as a full body inspection. The fact that many hired medical facilities doing these exams for companies and do them "patient nude" is quite a well known practice.

Some time ago undressing and gowning scores of job applicants, became tedious and expensive. Paper gowns of the disposable kind alleviated some of the cost but frankly the old fashioned naked exam is far and away the easiest to perform. During the 1960's a large company in the mid-west, United States hired almost 95% male sales persons. Before being hired these job hopefuls showed up in large measure for the company's sole medical clinician...the nurse. I can only imagine the startled and unhappy faces as these men...some young, were told to remove all their clothing and hop upon the scale....

A large Alabama manufacturing plant hired most of its workforce from the ranks of newly graduated high school women...(hardly more than girls!)...Their practice was similar...all pre employment physical exams were in their own medical office and performed completely naked. Since the company had two significant government contracts all employees were finger and toe printed at the time of their examinations....Since the medical guidelines were not stringent almost all those that applied passed and were given jobs. The company's attitude toward the medicals was not routine. Since absenteeism was a problem the health factor as a requirement was critical. So saying, every female enterring employment was given a complete and thorough gynecological exam too...something unheard of in companies during that era. Since the great number emplyed were not college bound females...the thought of what it looked like waiting for a pre-employment physical in the company's waiting room evokes many images to delight the imagination.

A steady stream of youthful job applicants soon to have their naked feet in the stirrups!...And some of you don't wish for the good old days?

Polly

Have any of you ladies had a pre-employment physical exam that included a gyn exam? If so, was the doctor a male or a female? Was this thorough of an exam a surprise to you? Thanks.

I am a nurse myself, a 30 years old male, employed in a ICU in a hospital. Regulations impose regular medical check-up once a year on all members of the medical staff, including doctors and nurses. Examinations are aimed to protect public health and refusal to submit may result in losing work. In advance, I've had to complete some tests including blood count, blood lipids, urine, drug screen tests, HIV and HCV as well as ECG and chest X-ray. I appeared in the occupational physician office on scheduled time, at 7.00 am, just before work. There was a new doctor - a tall, attractive woman in her early thirties, dressed in a white scrub, nude tights with open toe sandals. She smiled, shook my hand and took detailed medical history. She mentioned that the new STD prevention regulations require to perform full physical, including genital and rectal exam. Though I was surprised, she assured that it was a routine now for all males and females. As the facility has just purchased a new exam table, the doc asked if I didn't mind my rectal exam in lithotomy position which gives better access. Generally, most of females had nothing against, some males still felt embarassed. I said OK, then was given back-opening examination cape and disposable exam shorts and told to change in a cubicle. Though I am a medical professional, I am always embarrassed to be a patient myself. After I had undressed, I entered the exam room with a sophisticated table and and a lot of equipment. Then I was weighed and measured (BMI), my blood pressure and pulse were taken. The doctor examined my head and neck, oral cavity, teeth, thyroid gland and palpated for major lymph nodes, including underarms. My armpits were dry and clean, as I have previously performed laser hair removal. Then she listened to my lungs and heart and palpated abdomen. Finally she asked me to disrobe entirely and to stand at the end of the exam table with feet about shoulder width. She put on blue latex gloves saying “ I will examine your penis, scrotum, and testes”. She gently grasped shaft of my penis and inspected glans for any abnormalities and hygiene. I was circumcised high and tight with a well defined scar, thus my penis was in perfect condition. The doctor was sitting before me on a rolling stool, I was not surprised when my penis started to grow a little. “Don't worry, it's a natural response” she assured moving to my scrotum and examined all sides of the sac, lifted it up to visually inspect the posterior side and examined the scrotal sac by rolling the skin between the fingers of one or both hands. Then she said: "I am going to examine your anus, rectum, and the prostate” and had me lay down on the examination table. She pulled out the stirrups from below the table and positioned my feet in them so my knees were wide spread apart and I was really exposed. Actually, it was quite comfortable position and I didn't feel strange. “Now I will insert my finger into the rectum. You should feel some pressure, but if you feel any other discomfort; please let me know." She generously lubricated the index finger of the gloved dominant hand with lubricant and visually inspected the area for lesions, rashes, fissures and hemorrhoids. She placed her index finger at the anal opening. "To make the insertion of my finger into the rectum more comfortable, please bear down as though you were going to have a bowel movement. You will only feel pressure " she instructed and applied gentle pressure and slowly inserted finger towards umbilicus allowing a few seconds for the external and internal sphincter to relax. The doctor evaluated the tone of the sphincter muscles and rotated finger 360° to evaluate anal sphincter muscle ring. I was getting boner this time, but she didn't pay any attention. To examine the prostate, she palpated in a circular motion to increase ability to identify the lobes and groove. Prostate massage resulted with leakage of pre-seminal fluid, she collected into a tube. The exam was over. I got off the stirrups, wiped myself with a paper towel and dressed up. “It's all right, see you the next year”

I had an employment exam once that included a GYN exam. I was very embarrassed since I was going to work this very same doctors office. In the long run I am very glad I had the exam because it ended up saving my life because it turned out I had class 5 cervical cancer that was caught early enough I only had to have surgery to remove a portion of my cervix.

I have never had a pre-employment physical that included a genital exam.

I have had pre-employment physicals that ran from almost nothing to full strip to undershorts with genital, hernia, and rectal exams. My wife has had a few pre-employment physicals. One included a brief internal bi-manual exam, another included a rectal exam but no gyn, and her most recent pre-employment physical four years ago included a complete physical with breast, full pelvic with Pap, and rectal exams.

Thanks for that information rabidbiker. I just cannot comprehend a scenario whereby such a detailed, intimate examination that includes a full gyn would be required as part of a pre-employment physical. What kind of job was this for, can I ask?

I am so very very lucky, I am 53 now, never undergone a pre-employment physical. I have been with the same company over 10 years, I made it a condition of my employment in a contract that I would never have to be examined for any reason. So far its worked beautifully. Even for the military in the UK, my Army medical on three occasions was done by Dr's who really weren't interested in me, cursory check of my breathing medical history and over in 5 minutes, never exposed my genitals, no Dr. has ever been in my ass for anything. I intend to keep it that way. Never been hospitalized, never been ill, never been off work as a result of illness in 33 years, I don't think about getting ill. I eat well, exercise, and stay away from hospitals and physicians.

Gynojames, she is a program manager with a medium sized company. Even though she had the complete physical before she started work, it was actually part of an optional wellness program the company offers. The physical was only required to participate in the wellness program. For the hassle and embarrassment of a complete physical, you get an extra 5 sick days a year, a lower health insurance premium with low co-pays and no deductible, and better coverage. You have to have a complete physical every year from your own doctor to keep participating, but the initial physical when she was hired had to be done by an occupational health clinic they contract with. If you don't participate, you didn't need a physical, but you get stuck with a high deductible insurance with a higher premium and less coverage. Not to mention only 3 sick days a year compared to 7 total with the wellness program.

It's interesting to read the different ways other countries run their health care systems. Unlike France, the US has no mandated employment physical exams. It is up to each individual employer to decide whether or not they require physicals for employment. For some labor intensive occupations like police, fire, oil rig, heavy construction, etc. a physical is almost always required. For more sedentary jobs like office workers an exam is usually not required, and if it is it's often just a cursory physical. The physicals for the more labor intensive jobs are usually a lot more thorough for obvious reasons.

Nowadays some larger employers are offering wellness programs with incentives to encourage employees to get regular health screenings, quit smoking, lose weight, lower their cholesterol and blood pressure, etc. to not only reduce insurance costs but to have healthier, more productive employees.

So what happens when he is genuinely sick, or you want a holiday together? Do they get someone else in, or is it a case of 'if you go, don't come back'?

I find it amazing that a company would rather work a critical employee into the ground such that they're actually in no fit state to work - if nobody else is available, and the employee is such a mission-critical asset to the firm that nobody else can do what they do, you should treat them as such.

Anyway, with regard to burn-out, here's some extracts from the report into an accident in the UK. The judge is describing the individual who made the fatal error:

"So far as his uncharacteristic errors are concerned... (snip) These are so uncharacteristic, so much a contradiction of his methodical working life that there has to be a further cause. I find that cause to be the constant repetition of weekend work in addition to work throughout the week which had blunted his working edge, his freshness and his concentration.

(snipped some more)

He, like many others, accepted every opportunity he was given to do overtime with the result that in the three months before the accident he had had one sole day off in the entire thirteen weeks. I find this to be totally unacceptable."

When was this written? 1988. The individual in question was burnt-out and made a simple error which killed thirty-five people. You might say it's a cop-out, but I'm sure the families of those 35 dead people wouldn't agree.

In the industry he was employed in there are now legal safeguards to limit hours (and number of consecutive days) worked. Jobs which require concentration, like driving, operating machinery, etc, have limits on their working hours because tiredness kills, though interestingly the health sector here doesn't have similar rules. Junior doctors in the UK are currently in a nationwide labour dispute regarding a proposal to increase their working hours and remove the few legal safeguards against excessive working hours that they have.

One of their messages: Tired doctors kill people.

I'd much rather have some time off and go on holiday than be dead through overwork by the time I'm 50.

@cm110365, I totally agree with your thought !

One of their messages: Tired doctors kill people.

I'd much rather have some time off and go on holiday than be dead through overwork by the time I'm 50.

Well, since it looks as if employers aren't planning on keeping anyone employed beyond 50 (if not 45) anyway, they could care less. There are always, always enough people to take someone's place in the employment rat race.